PTC Creo 8 – What’s New?

Creo 8

There has been an addition to the PTC family of Design Solutions, PTC Creo 8 has arrived!
When an update to a major product like this is released, we here at PDSVISION are keen to see what’s new, what’s enhanced, and what will be of most benefit to our users.

We will be honest – we get excited!  Then of course – we want to tell you! So here we are… a blog where we can tell you about some of the major improvements and enhancements to our favorite CAD tool!

Let’s start with the new capabilities coming with Creo 8. In the bigger picture, one could say that this release will concentrate on following areas:

Usability & Productivity
MBD & Detailing
Simulation & Optimization
Additive and Subtractive Manufacturing

For the advanced users we suggest PTC knowledgebase article CS337229, which covers all applications and enhancements in a condensed format.
The CAD user view
Display

A new datum display will make it easier see and follow the intersection of the shaded datum plane and the modelled geometry.

On the other hand, should you want to stick to previous default style that is OK too.

And you can now

Detach multiple panels from the dashboard and display them all at the same time.
Take control over the visibility of the dimensions in Sketcher.
Easily set transparency display for solid bodies, quilts, and tessellated geometry.

[caption id="attachment_13521" align="alignnone" width="486"] Transparency Control in the in-graphics toolbar adjusts the transparency of bodies, quilts, and tessellated geometry.[/caption]

Design Tree

As we know, the Model Tree stores the history and the order in which the features of a model were created. In Creo 8, features such as quilts, custom groups, bodies, and more will also be gathered in a Design Tree. The Design Tree can be displayed side-by-side with the Model Tree and in that way communicate the design intent in a clearer way.

 

Snapshots

Something new in Creo 8 is that you view snapshots of your early design stages. You can display multiple snapshots and design views in parallel to study the underlying surfaces and minimize the need to move around the “Insert Here” up and down the Model Tree. This function is found in the right-mouse button menu when you click a feature in the Model Tree.

[caption id="attachment_13525" align="aligncenter" width="642"] A Snapshot in Creo 8.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_13526" align="alignright" width="380"] Hole feature in Creo 8[/caption]

Hole Features

The hole features function has gotten updates as well! Some of the new capabilities added are:

Lightweight representations for all hole types available to speed up models with many holes or hole patterns.

Support for multi-hole features, with the new sketch-based placement option, including support for reference patterns based on the multi-hole feature.

Enhanced standards support, including tapped, tapered holes and medium-fit options for metric clearance.

Enhanced thread-handling options.

Geodesic Curves

Creo 8 introduces geodesic curves to ensure that the shortest path between two points is being represented. To give you some examples; this can be useful when optimizing the layout and distribution of wiring and cabling.

Sheetmetal

The regeneration in Sheetmetal mode has improved and the system feels smarter. Furthermore, you can now create multiple walls at the same time.

Assemblies

When it comes to inseparable assemblies, some well sought-after functionality is introduced. These updates are especially useful for people working with purchased components in their assemblies. In Creo 8 you can now include an inseparable assembly and do the following:

Embed: Copy and embed the component into its owner assembly.
Extract: Extract the component to a new standalone model, replacing the embedded component in the assembly.
Make Inseparable: Embed the lower-level components into the selected assembly.
Make Separable: Extract the embedded components from the selected assembly.
Create Embedded: Create a new embedded component in the assembly.

Furthermore, an inseparable assembly is updates quicker when a new version of the component is sent from the supplier.

This feature comes with the standard toolset for all users.

[caption id="attachment_13528" align="aligncenter" width="412"] Image MBD supports collection methods for gathering.[/caption]

 

Model-Based Definition (MBD)

With Creo 8 comes some powerful MBD and detailing tools. The symbols have been modernized, and include a customizable symbol gallery, definitions, improved background commands and workflows for symbol editing and placement.

MBD now supports collection methods for gathering references, the new gallery for systems and Semantic references for symbols welding symbols.

GD&T Advisor for Assemblies

The GD&T advisor helps the user to quickly create correct, feature-centric geometrical tolerances and annotations (GD&T). In previous versions of Creo the GD&T advisor was only supporting parts but with the GD&T Advisor Plus license you can now take advantage of the same powerful interface and capabilities for assemblies as well.

Create dimensions on the fly in GD&T Advisor

[caption id="attachment_13529" align="aligncenter" width="663"] GD&T Advisor for assemblies[/caption]

Simulation and Generative Design

In Creo 8 the generative tools have become even more powerful. An automatic envelope, draft-handling, radius constraints, and more has been added. With the capability of running multiple processes at the same time, users can now work on other models while optimization and analysis in ongoing.

Enhancements to Creo Simulation Live introduces support for steady-state flow analysis by default and various improvement have been made to usability. The solver has been upgraded to Ansys 2021R1 to enable the fastest solver technology available.

Creo Ansys Simulation tools enable improved mesh and solver control, including large deformation analysis for high-fidelity design validation. Furthermore, export to Ansys Mechanical is supported.
The system admin view
Now let’s look at the hardcore, but necessary, system administration updates and changes.

Maintenance Period

The concept Creo Enterprise Releases was introduced with Creo 4, and the idea was to have much longer maintenance periods for certain releases of Creo Parametric to enable companies to implement the program without having to plan for another upgrade within the next year. The Enterprise Releases of Creo Parametric are Creo 4 and Creo 7, while Creo Parametric 5 and 6 are so called standard releases, with a shorter support plan. However, this changes with Creo Parametric 8. To better support multiple Creo releases as requested by Creo users, PTC is changing the support cadence for all new Creo releases beginning in April 2021.

Starting with the release of Creo 8.0.0.0 in April 2021, all new Creo releases will be supported for a total of 4 years. For the first 2 years of Creo 8, maintenance releases will be delivered quarterly. For subsequent years, maintenance releases will be delivered at a reduced cadence.

Browser

The embedded browser in Creo Parametric has been updated with Chromium browser version 85. The default embedded browser of Creo Parametric is still Internet Explorer. However, you can change it to Chromium browser by using the configuration option windows_browser_type.

Java

Java based (J-Link or Java Object Toolkit) customization is supported with update to Java 11. The Java update also affects Creo Product Insight connected to ThingWorx or Windchill PLM Connector, but you don’t need to install Java for the regular communication with Windchill.

Licensing and Platform Support
For a data management point of view, Creo Parametric 8 is supported with following Windchill releases:
Windchill 11.1 M020 CPS17
Windchill 11.2.1.7
Windchill 12.0.2.0 (Planned)
Windchill 12.1.0.0 (Planned)

The PTC license server is suggested to be upgraded to 11.17.1.0.  For detailed information, check out CS338183 and CS311485 in the PTC knowledgebase. The installation of license server has been separated from Creo Parametric installation. Another practical thing from system administrator standpoint is, that the license server is also available as a separate installation media.
Summary
All in all, Creo 8 appears to be another strong release from PTC. The enhancements and new capabilities in core functionality will speed up the modelling process in creation and management, thanks to the new Design Tree functions, management of inseparable assemblies, improved Sheetmetal mode… the list goes on.

In addition, the enhancements in areas like simulation, additive and subtractive manufacturing, generative design and more, are very appreciated.

The Handyman and The Gentleman – AR #6 – Capture, Edit & Author

In my previous blogs, I have shown and discussed how the PTC Vuforia family of solutions is becoming the fastest and easiest way to create powerful step-by-step augmented reality (AR) instructions.

It’s simplistic ability to convey knowledge transfer easily and practically enables it to empower entire workforces with new skills, and uplift existing skills, whilst still based remotely – Saving time, money and minimising logistics.

In this blog to accompany my ongoing video series –  The Handyman & The Gentleman  – I am going to delve deeper into why in my opinion PTC Vuforia Expert Capture and SOP’s can empower further, frontline workers to get their tasks done quickly and accurately, the first time around and each time!

The continuing growth in the worker skills gap, in most organizations has an impact across a wide range of industry sectors.

Most organizations are structured in a way that equates to a fewer number of highly skilled and experienced workers, than those who are not, who often form the majority.

Even those organizations who train staff to multi-task, still need those who can absorb these skills, and pass on these abilities forward to others, equally or collectively.



Vuforia Expert Capture – Part Of The “Data Exchange Family”  
At PDSVISION for example, the introduction of Data Laws required some of the team to become experts in the subject. They then went forward to train others on how to implement this major change on how we handle personal data, across a range of divisions.

A real tangible example of how a hand full of really on-the-edge experts needing to have how their “tacit” knowledge to be documented and scaled to the whole organization – in house.

It also instigated real conversations amongst many departments on how AR, amongst other solutions we provide to our customers is also part of the “Data Exchange Family” with similar challenges and concerns felt by our own customers.

Our own need to convey skills and knowledge helps us relate to the challenges faced by our own customers operating in the Oil and Gas industry for example, who face this challenge continuously when implementing the constant changes in Health and Safety across multiple sites.

Another example related to industrial service or maintenance is when new and not experienced employees seek to ask the experienced workers, with the longest beards – work related questions –  but problems and costs start to pile up and customer satisfaction is being jeopardized when the long-bearded expert replies,

“I’ve never seen this product/model before.”

Today, we see across the globe an extremely high phase of skills development and increased product and process complexities, running parallel to the continuous evolution of customer demands for easy-to-use and easy-to-understand relevant visual information.

Nowadays, the phase of development is so high that it is impossible to stay on the skills track, without the right systems and tools.  AR is already a practical tool that as part of Health and Safety implementations – Keeping employees compliant and safe – it helps to document and protect enterprise best practices, tacit knowledge and related IP. It can be implemented across divisions to empower all at once on a broad range of subjects and user cases.
The balancing of priorities

This creates a balancing act between security, functionality, simplicity and user experience – that weighted too far in the wrong direction, can cause an organization to get lost during the its Cross-Functional Digital Transformation journey very quickly.

Now, I can re-introduce VEC to the narrative, as it provides the counter weight needed to keep these needs equal and functional at all times.

It is truly quick to get started, no installation, no configuration, no version control, it is a true SaaS solution – you are always working with the latest updated version.

VEC’s end-to-end solution for capture, edit, view allows instant publishing for use on smart phones, tablets, headsets, PC’s makes it a solution minus the huge investment in technology normally associated with “New Tech” under the surface.

The bottom line savings are applicable to all business – reduce waste and scrap, reduce downtime and increase first time fix rates (FTFR) as well as mean time to repair (MTTR) – are there to be seen in reality, with a visible and positive impact on some organizations ability to meet or surpass customer satisfaction, whilst also maintaining compliance to service levels and/or supply agreements.
Augmented Reality provides functionality
In just 2 working day’s I have seen an organization implement, roll out and use VEC functionally, and on the job – A process that traditionally needed to be organized, was time consuming and increased costs, now all reduced via one solution.

So to conclude – AR is, as I have said before, is having real beneficial impacts on a range of business functions, sectors and organizations, from an ever increasing variety of backgrounds and dispersed customer needs.

Vuforia Expert Capture is one of the reasons AR is being implemented by an increasing number of these organizations – It is practical, adoptable and provides a firm foundation to begin the AR journey, without huge financial investments and time invested before a positive impact on the business can be seen.

Regards
Pontus